Nairobi: Kenya Utalii College, in collaboration with the Kitui County Government, is set to establish a new affiliate campus in Kitui County to offer tourism and hospitality courses closer to local students. The College Principal Mark Rachuonyo confirmed the plan during a courtesy call to Kitui Governor Julius Malombe at the county headquarters in Kitui Town.
According to Kenya News Agency, the governor and the principal also toured the proposed construction site in Tiva Village, Yatta Kwa Vonza Ward, located along the Kitui-Machakos border, about 15 kilometers from Kitui Town. The Kitui branch is expected to make a significant economic impact on both local and national hospitality and tourism sectors. Kitui County is also working to establish a tourism circuit and revitalize its hospitality industry, making the institution timely and strategic.
Dr Malombe noted that Kitui is uniquely endowed with cultural heritage and natural attractions that had remained largely untapped prior to devolution. 'Through strategic interventions by our tourism department, these assets have fueled growth in domestic tourism. With Kenya Utalii College setting foot in Kitui, the future of our hospitality and tourism industries looks promising,' he said. He added that the initiative aligns with the national agenda on youth empowerment, job creation, and sustainable economic development, pledging his administration's full support for the project.
Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani, who is also the CECM for Tourism, Hospitality, and Game Reserves, said his ministry is working to enrich tourism in the county. 'We will be launching the Kitui Tourism Circuit on Friday, 19th September 2025. This will be an eye-opener and an opportunity for our youth to invest in the sector,' he said.
Principal Rachuonyo observed that the Kitui campus will serve a wide catchment area, including Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Embu, Meru, Isiolo, Tana River, and Northeastern counties. 'We are delighted that Kitui has allocated us a 26-acre parcel of land in the Tiva area in Kyangwithia Ward, Kitui Central Sub-County. The new institution will provide world-class training in tourism and hospitality, equipping youth with skills to serve in the industry while also promoting cultural preservation and sustainable tourism,' he said.
Tourism remains one of Kenya's top foreign exchange earners and the fourth-largest contributor to GDP after agriculture, manufacturing, and transport. In 2024, tourism accounted for 8% of Kenya's GDP (Kenya Economic Survey Report, 2024).